Haaland, Keller & Romero

ABQ Mayor Tim Keller and Congresswoman Deb Haaland are joining forces for the Nov. 5 city election, urging the electorate to support three progressive Democrats for the nine member panel.

The pair took to Facebook to give endorsements in a short video to incumbent Dem Councilors Ike Benton and Pat Davis as well as Dem hopeful Ane Romero.

Said Keller:

With the right leadership we truly can come come together to be the best city we can be.

Not exactly a call to arms there, but a number of observers we spoke to said given the state of city politics Keller and Haaland don't have to do much to move the needle. Senator Alligator analysis:

There is no effective opposition yet to Keller, Haaland and the progressives. That's why you are seeing this. In the past such endorsements would be kept somewhat below the radar, but not today. The endorsements are also a commentary on the weak opposition campaigns being run against Davis and Benton. Keller and Haaland saw little to lose and hope their backing will spike progressive turnout for the three endorsed candidates.

But could the endorsements fire up Republicans and independents and some Dems who see the mayoral endorsement as a power grab? More insider analysis:

Remember, former Democratic Mayor Marty Chavez got in trouble when he went around endorsing candidates and trying to mold the council in his image. It gave rise to a progressive rebellion and Democrat Richard Romero who challenged him in the 2009 election. Chavez lost to Republican Berry in a three way race, largely because of the split Democratic vote. 

But ABQ was a different town then, with a still alive Republican Party and a streak of Democratic moderation. Today the turn has been decidedly to the left, so much so that the city's two leading Democrats can pretty much do what they please--at least until they bite off more than they can chew and the opposition comes onto the playing field.

THE TIMING

Today is the day candidates must file their declarations of candidacy. Are Keller and Haaland hoping their endorsements cause some hopefuls to back out, increasing the chances of their faves? Insiders say behind-the-scenes pressure from Ane Romero consultants and others has led Hailey Roy to decide to withdraw from the District 4 race. That reduces the number of Dems in that contest and perhaps helps Dem Romero.

DISTRICT IMPACT

Benton and Davis

The dual endorsement of North Valley/Barelas District 2 Councilor Benton is big. He is being challenged by four candidates, chief among them is young Dem gun Zach Quintero. The Keller endorsement is a body blow to Zach who has spoke highly of the Mayor, but Benton has always endorsed Keller and now the favor has been returned. Still, an outside committee upset with Benton over ART is still expected and spend money attacking him. Quintero has been endorsed by the unions for police and firefighters.

Haaland had already endorsed Pat Davis in SE Heights District 6 so he got another bite out of that apple with the second endorsement. He has a talented Dem opponent in Gina Naomi Dennis but his camp is painting her as offering unsteady leadership. ART was a disaster for Davis, who supported the controversial transit project, but Keller and Haaland are bailing him out. Dennis backers call Davis a "fake progressive."

Bassan & Winter

The one district where the endorsements might cut two ways is NE Heights District 4. That's where Ane Romero is now boasting of the Haaland-Keller backing. However, the lone Republican, Brook Bassan, may use the endorsements to coalesce Republicans and conservative independents.

Haaland's politics are too far left for a large swath of the district, giving Bassan a chance to reinforce the GOP attacks on Romero that she is too "radical." The seat is being vacated by longtime GOP Councilor Brad Winter who has endorsed Bassan.

Keller and Haaland did not endorse in the other council contest that features incumbent Republican Trudy Jones and Democrat Maurreen Skowran in NE Heights District 8.  That district is solid R .

If no candidate in a  city council race gets 50 percent of the vote there will be a run-off election December 10 between the two top finishers.

The City Council is currently controlled by the Dems 6-3 but there is a history of bipartisan action on a wide range of issues. ABQ elections are officially nonpartisan, with no party labels listed on the ballot. Whatever was left of that fig leaf was shredded by all the Dem endorsements from the Mayor and first-term Congresswoman.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019